MCINTOSH LABS INTRODUCES NEW HEADPHONE AMP MODEL MHA 100

[JustinS]

I really hope you get it sorted groovey!

I got my Abyss headphones yesterday, had them plugged in for all of 10 minutes last night. Please take it from me (I love my MHA100 to bits) but be under no illusions it CAN NOT drive Abyss headphones. The sound was missing detail, with blurred and recessed treble, altogether not a nice experience, took them back today. I really like my PS1000 with the Mcintosh, but I find myself reaching for the HD800 on most occasions, the pair really do suit each other. Sweet music follows

 

[MickeyVee]

The MHA100 / HD800 is pretty much about end game for me and not much interest in anything else any more.  Surprised about the Abyss pairing.  Happy Listening!!

 

[griff609]

I really hope you get it sorted groovey!

I got my Abyss headphones yesterday, had them plugged in for all of 10 minutes last night. Please take it from me (I love my MHA100 to bits) but be under no illusions it CAN NOT drive Abyss headphones. The sound was missing detail, with blurred and recessed treble, altogether not a nice experience, took them back today. I really like my PS1000 with the Mcintosh, but I find myself reaching for the HD800 on most occasions, the pair really do suit each other. Sweet music follows

Sorry to hear the Abyss and MHA don't mesh. I wonder (not that you'd want to experiment with $$$$ cans) if you hooked them up to the speaker out, you'd definatley have the juice then. Could be disatrous, or could potentially be the best thing you've ever heard lol.

 

[buson160man]

 I was at best buy and while I was there I walked into magnolia to see what was on display. I eyed one of these beauties they had it on display.
Sure looks like a McIntosh . The compensatory transformers and all with those beautiful meters glowing in McIntosh blue. Nice looking piece but a bit to rich for my shallow pockets.

 

[JustinS]

Thanks buson, it sure does look nice, particularly when the room lights are dimmed.

griff, how strange that you write that, because literally about 3 minutes before reading your post I was having one of those vacant expressions/deep in thought moments, and thought exactly that. I wonder if that could be the answer, no don't be so silly you'll blow up over £4000 of headphone!!

Mickey, I make you right, without ploughing HUGE money into perhaps a W234/Abyss combination (which I never would) I think the MHA/HD800 is pretty much as good as it gets, for sensible'ish money.

Have a good weekend all.

 

[4N6]

Spent a great afternoon at a stereo store in Richmond, VA listening to the PrimaLuna (PL) HP Integrated amp ( http://www.primaluna-usa.com/product-main/dl-prem-series/hp-int ). This has a headphone amp built in that utilizes all of the tubes. When I bought my MHA 100, I also wanted to compare it to the PrimaLuna amp, however, the store (a different one) "sold" the PrimaLuna the morning I was supposed to come listen to it (I still wonder if they ever had this amp in stock in the first place, but I digress...). I finally had a chance to listen to it with my LCD-XC's.
 
The headphone amp in the PL has a LOT of gain. Although I did not have the LCD 3's or the HE-6's, I would venture to guess that this amp would power them well.
 
Great sound via the PL with my XC's. I have a feeling that had I been able to listen to the PL before I bought my Mac, I may have went in that direction. Nothing against my Mac (which sounds terrific), the PL had that tube richness that really complemented the XC's. 
 
Bottom line...the Mac is a fabulous piece of kit, but if you want an integrated that also has a kick ass headphone amp, listen also to the PrimaLuna HP (along with the Cary and Leben integrated's).

 

[lextek]

Ah Primaluna and Cary two very, interesting amps...

 

[groovyd]

FedEx is mostly useless in managing claims... anyway, I finally got the ok from them to remove the amp from the box and turns out it does have significant scratching on the two aluminum side rails.  No damage anywhere else and it powers on and sounds as normal. Not getting hot or flickering or anything.  So I guess it is the packaging and the side rails that need replaced.  Does McIntosh sell replacement parts directly?  Any ideas what these side rails would cost and how hard they are to replace?

 

[JustinS]

Yes they would sell them individually, two screws per side, 2 minute job. Sorry I don't know costs.

Hope you get sorted, it will be worth the trouble in the end, when it's looking all new, and you have new packaging.

 

[groovyd]

My D100 side pieces seem to have screws from the outside, these MC252 pieces don't... are they glued onto the glass panel directly perhaps? No screws visible anywhere.

 

[lextek]

My D100 side pieces seem to have screws from the outside, these MC252 pieces don't... are they glued onto the glass panel directly perhaps? No screws visible anywhere.

It might be easier to just contact Mcintosh.

 

[griff609]

The XR50's came in around noon. They are absolutely beautiful! 
 

 

 
This isn't the final setup, the stands actually put the tweeters at ear level for the chair I'm using now. The MHA can drive these pretty loud, I have them spaced about 7ft apart I sit about that distance away from them and I haven't been able to go above 50% volume. For a desktop or personal music area setup the XR50's sound excellent off the MHA. You could probably hit the limit of this amp if you were listening in a large room sitting a good distance away. 
 
Some of the stuff I listened to at 16-24bit lossless .flac through Macbook Pro/Audirvana
 
Jazz at the Pawnshop
Ed Sheeran
alt-J
Betty Who
Milky Chance
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane

 

[MickeyVee]

What a lovely setup! Congratulations!!
 
Quote:

  The XR50's came in around noon. They are absolutely beautiful! 
 

 
 

 

[griff609]

Thanks! I'm really digging the overall setup so far. It's really made me rethink whether or not to keep my other gear. I dont understand why McIntosh doesnt offer the speakers on the MXA70 seperately? I'm sure MHA owners would consider them as an option when looking for monitors.

 

[BobG55]

  What a lovely setup! Congratulations!!
 
Quote:

  The XR50's came in around noon. They are absolutely beautiful! 
 

 
 

+1 Wow !!!!